The final of IPL 2020 will take place in Dubai, the BCCI has announced.
This year’s final will be staged on 10 November after the Qualifier 1, Eliminator, and Qualifier 2 matches have left the top two sides in the tournament.
Dubai will also host the first qualifier match on 5 November as the league’s first and second-placed teams battle it out for a route straight to the final.
Abu Dhabi has been chosen to host the Eliminator match between the fourth and fifth-placed sides. It will also be the venue for the second Qualifier clash between the loser of the Qualifier 1 and the winner of the Eliminator.
All playoff matches are set to start at 19:30 IST.
It means that Sharjah won’t host any IPL matches playoff matches. It will instead host all four matches of the Women’s T20 Challenge between November 4-9.
IPL Playoffs Schedule
Qualifier 1: First-placed team vs second-placed team, Dubai, on 5 November at 19:30 IST
Eliminator: Third-placed team vs fourth-placed team, Abu Dhabi, on 6 November at 19:30 IST
Qualifier 2: Winner of Eliminator vs loser of Qualifier 1, Abu Dhabi, on 8 November at 19:30 IST
Final: Winner of Qualifier 1 vs Winner of Qualifier 2, Dubai, on 10 November at 19:30 IST
The Race for the Playoffs
The push to make the IPL playoff stages is now hotting up as the tournament enters into the final group matches.
Mumbai's loss against Rajasthan Royals hasn't changed things for them. They still need one win from their final three games to secure a playoff place.
They will have bigger ambitions and will want to bag a top-two finish. That battle looks likely to now be between them, RCB and Delhi Capitals in the final three fixtures.
That win over Mumbai for Rajasthan does keep their top-four hopes alive. They are now chasing fourth-placed Kolkata, who sit just two points ahead but have played a game less.
Like the Royals, KXIP and Sunrisers Hyderabad are also hot on the heels of the Knight Riders but need to string a winning run together sooner rather than later.
Kings XI's will hope to cut the gap further when they face Kolkata in Sharjah on Monday.
Chennai Super Kings are the only team that can't make the playoff picture after the weekend.
